By Samantha Swindler / Managing Editor

The ATF released on Monday a list of 78 firearms unaccounted for by the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department following a Dec. 21 burglary at the office.

Not all of the guns are believed to be stolen, said Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives Public Information Officer George Huffman.

“We believe that the actual amount of firearms that are stolen or missing is far less than 78,” Huffman said. “We believe that a large number of firearms have been released, we just can’t find the documents supporting their release.”

The list of missing guns was compiled by the sheriff’s department with help from ATF special agents, and is based on entries in the sheriff’s evidence log. Deputies and investigators took the number of firearms recorded in the log since 2003, and subtracted from that the approximately 40 guns remaining in the evidence locker and those that had paperwork detailing their release. There were 78 firearms missing and without paperwork detailing their whereabouts.

Based on serial numbers, it appears that as many as 16 of the missing guns were inquired about in an open records request filed by the Times-Tribune days before the break-in. Thirteen serial numbers listed as missing matched the requested guns exactly. Three guns matched descriptions in the request, but contained serial numbers off by one or two digits, such as a “7” in place for a “9.” The request asked for documents related to the transfer of 18 weapons seized by the department in two different cases, including 17 seized from Richard Benson in 2004. The open records request was filed Dec. 15, after Sheriff Lawrence Hodge told the Times-Tribune Benson’s guns had been taken by ATF agents, but ATF officials denied ever taking them. 

The paper has not yet received a formal response to its open records request, but was told verbally it would be delayed due to the burglary investigation.

Huffman said officers believe a portion of the missing guns were distributed legally, but there remains no supporting paperwork in the office.

“There are records or indications where the sheriff’s department took the gun in and we know the gun’s missing. It could have been a situation where the gun was given to the rightful owner, but there’s no paperwork saying that it was given to the rightful owner. It could have been a situation where those records were taken or destroyed, but we just don’t know if it was given to the rightful owner or not,” Huffman said.

The sheriff’s department burglary occurred in the early morning hours of Dec. 21. An office worker who arrived at the department that Monday morning reportedly noticed signs that someone had broken in. 

The sheriff’s department is located inside the Whitley County Courthouse. The thief or thieves reportedly gained entry into the courthouse, though there was no sign of forced entry outside the building. They entered through a locked, dead bolt door to the sheriff’s department, a locked door into the sheriff’s personal office, and opened the locked evidence cabinet that stored the guns. 

Kentucky State Police Det. Bill Correll said there were “minimal signs of damage to that door (leading to the sheriff’s department) that would suggest possible forced entry.”

Huffman said ATF and KSP are jointly investigating the break-in. 

The sheriff’s personal office, where the evidence locker is kept, was “ransacked” following the burglary, and evidence paperwork was scattered across the floor. Investigators are unsure if paperwork was taken by the perpetrator or perpetrators, or if some of the paperwork detailing firearms’ release ever existed. 

The list of 78 guns, which is shown below, includes descriptions and serial numbers when available. Some of the guns’ serial numbers aren’t listed because they were either not in the evidence log, or because, Huffman noted, guns made before 1968 were not required to have them. 

ATF agents are asking anyone in possession of a listed gun to contact the agency. 

Huffman said the ATF is not seeking to confiscate the guns, but to simply determine their whereabouts. The guns that are not located will be entered into an ATF database that will alert agents if the guns are ever logged by law enforcement. 

“We’re just trying to document which guns were lawfully given back, if they were stolen or not, because we’ve got to try to ascertain where these guns went,” Huffman said.

Anyone in possession of one of the listed firearms, who knows the location of any of the firearms, or who has any information regarding any of the firearms should contact the ATF London Office at (606) 864-5523 ext. 126. 

Sheriff Lawrence Hodge did not return phone calls seeking comment.

MISSING GUNS LIST

Bryco Arms .380 caliber pistol blk clip serial # 1326752 T-380-CA,

Glock 23 Pistol

Ithacia 20 gauge serial # 1039850.

Smith and Wesson .44 caliber magnum serial # N322343,

Smith & Wesson model 1076 serial # TEV0246.

Ruger .22 caliber serial # 26323286.

Smith and Wesson Air weight .38 caliber serial # 75333.

Pendnelr New England single barrel 12 gauge serial # NL263623.

Charter Arms .38 SPL (4329).

Andrew Fyrbers Sons single shot shotgun.

Smith and Wesson model 14 38 cailber serial # 19422.

Smith and Wesson model 30 .32 long serial # 750877.

Winchester model 12, 12 gauge serial # 1739606.

Marlin 22 caliber serial # 124382 85.

Marlin .22 caliber.

Nitro Hunter serial # A76104.

High Point 9mm black.

Winchester model 840 12 gauge shotgun serial # CEO8760.

Marlin 30/30 rifle serial # D6043430.

Revelation model 135 serial # D778672.

New England Firearms 12 gauge shotgun serial # NE323245.

Winchester .22 caliber model 190 serial # B1733383.

Marlin model 60W .22 caliber serial # 07441548.

Fox mod B 16 gauge double barrel shotgun serial # B40486.

Colt .38 caliber serial # 884180.

Winchester model 1300 12 gauge shotgun serial # L3462134.

Pietro Beretta serial # 19783M.

Colt Gold Cup .45 caliber serial # SN16680E.

Colt .45 caliber serial # FC16065E.

Colt .45 caliber officers serial # FA05287E.

Springfield Armory .45 caliber serial # N371445.

Wilson Combat .45 caliber serial # NL000339.

Remington .380 caliber serial # PA14496.

Colt .25 caliber serial # 338919.

Browning 9MM serial # 245RR05629.

Ruger MKII .22 caliber serial # 211-13968.

Smith & Wesson .22 caliber serial # A566527.

Smith & Wesson .44 caliber serial # AB24867.

Walter PPK .22 caliber serial # 1291575.

Ruger 30-06 serial # 131-14151.

Browning .22 caliber serial # 02027PZ226.

Heckler & Koch .22 caliber serial # 3779.

Ruger .45 caliber (7C-133-44530).

Remington 1100 serial # N163431K.

CHIN. 7.62 serial # 3277017.

Charter Arms AR-7 EXPLORER .22 caliber serial # beginning with A2D5371

Raven .25 caliber auto serial # 1280024.

Remington 30-06 serial # B8493897 (model 700).

Millennium Taurts auto pistol 9MM PT111.

Smith and Wesson .38 caliber serial # 55727.

ASTRA .380 caliber pistol blue serial # 1098221.

Unknown firearm bearing Serial # 15913.

Mossberg 500A 12 gauge shotgun serial # R038313.

Winchester 30-30 rifle serial # 5294914.

HI Point model JF serial # 5294914.

Magnum 12 gauge shotgun serial # D587911A.

Revelation bolt action 20 gauge shotgun, serial # 45416.

Connecticut Valley Arms .50 caliber serial # 972735.

Bay State 410 gauge shotgun serial # 175243.

Smith and Wesson .357 caliber serial # AYF9751.

Clerke 22 caliber serial # 211011.

Mossberg 20 gauge shotgun serial # J074169.

Wolf .50 caliber serial # 61-13-215981-4.

Remington 870 20 gauge shotgun serial # A640130V.

Bolt action 22 caliber no serial #.

Marlin semi-auto 22 caliber rifle serial # 12310102.

High Point 9MM serial # 125160.

Single shot 12 gauge serial # 327893.

Stallard Arms model JJ 9MM serial # 093746.

Marlin 30-30 serial # 14079443.

Model CB 38 caliber SPCL black holster serial # CT019604.

22 LR serial # AP15651.

Springfield .22 caliber bolt action.

AMI Tanfoglio Giuseppe model GT27 .25 caliber serial # MK18061.

Rottul .22 caliber revolver with holster serial # 24487.

S&W; .38 caliber revolver model 49 serial # 493187.

Ruger Mark II .22 caliber serial # 210 32880.

Browning Arms 9MM serial # 945NT07641.